Fiber separating machine



u 1944- D. E. PATTERSON FIBER SEPARATING MACHINE, (RAMIE) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20. 1941 aww H m IN VEN TOR E. PATTERSON BY DAV: 2 m- WW I ATTORNE D. E. PATTERSON Aug. 15, 1944.

FIBER SEPARATING MACHINE, (RAMIE) Filed Feb. 20, 194i 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 -lllllll1 I Illll BY 01%;. PATTERSON aw W g 15, 1944- D. E. PATTERSON FIBER SEPARATING MACHINE,

(RAMIE) Filed Feb. 20, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INYENTOR Y WE N m T W E n Patented Aug. 15, 1944 man SEP TING mom (mm) David E. Patterson, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Bast Fiber Development Corporation, New York, N. Y., aeorporation of New York Application February 20, 1941, Serial No. 379,834

'1 Claim.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in fiber separating machines, but more particularly in a machine that is especially adapted for separating ramie fiber from the bark,

wood, cellulose and juices (sap) of the ramie stalk.

.Ramie, like flax, hemp and jute, is one of the bast fibers, but unlike the three last-mentioned possesses, certain characteristics which necessitate an entirely different treatment, and therefore a different type of machine for its complete and efficient decortication. Unlike\flax, hemp and jute, which should be so treated after the stalks have been first dried, ramie must be decorticated while yet green," that is, in its nat-.- ural live or wet condition and as soon as pos sible after being cut. This haste which is necessary in treating ramie is due to the fact that almost immediately after itfis cut, and especially if permitted to lie upon the ground for even a few hours, fermentation sets inwith the result that the fibers quickly deteriorate and soon become wholely unworthwhile to reclaim. Because of the fact that when correctly treated ramie stalks still contain all of the live sap that characterizes the growing plant, the machine furthermore must be continuously cleansed of such sap, gums and possiblyjother juices, as they tend to gather upon. solidify and'clog the operating parts oi the machine, whereas with flax, hemp and jute no such condition is encountered in their prime dry condition. a

l I Another object, therefore, is to provide a machine which willemciently decorticate ramie, under such limitations as the fact that the stalks vary from as much as three-quarters of an inch at the base to one-quarter of an inch or less at the top, and in length from four (4) to eight (8) feet (with an average of about six (6) Ieet) while I heavy foliage covers approximately one-third of their length and the presence of an enclosing bark which develops-rapidly as over-ripening sets in, in addition to both a woody inner layer and a cellulose pith center which also must be eliminated.

A further object is to provide a; machine of this type which will remove atleast 95% of the foliage, at least 90% of the bark from over-ripe stalks and at least 90% of the internal wood pith, so as to thereby achieve an overall efliciency of no less than 90% in the mechanical production of an improved decorticated China grass," and at a cost which makes it profitable in competition with the other fibers of commerce.

Still another object is to provide amachine.

which is capable of handling the ramie stalks throughout the several essential steps of the process in uninterrupted sequence until complete decortication is attained, and to provide an inherent process which preferably comprises, first,

the flattening of the stalk to break the bark and expose the internal structure; then removal of the foliage, preferably in the direction of its growth by brushing or scraping, then removal of the outer bark of whatever thickness may be present by abrasion between a plurality of roughened rolls, adjacent rolls having different surface speeds and the speed of the rolls generally increasing towards the discharge end, finally a set of cleaners, following which the decorticated fiber emerges upon a suitable conveyor belt or the like. With the objects thus briefly stated, the invention comprises furtherdetailsof construction and operation, which are hereinafter fully brought out, in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is .a diagrammatic view,

showing the arrangement and relationship of the various elements that in the improved ma chine enter into the combination as breakers, feed rolls, abrasion rolls and cleaners; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightly modified arrangement of said elements for carrying out the improved process or method with the same general results; Fig. 3 is a much enlarged section through a stalk of ramie upon which bark has formed; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a pair of, improved breaker elements in operative cooperationwith a section of s'talk between them; Fig. 5 is a part elevation and part sectional view of one of the upper abrasion rolls; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, showing the ends of a pair of cooperating abrasion rolls and their respective mountings;

V is a fragmentary and elevational view of a-repnesentative group of four such rolls and the method by whichthey are driven at difierentipredetermined speeds; and Fig. 10 is a fragmentaryend elevation of the same. o

Referring to the drawings, itnshould be first understood that ramie, one of thebroad group of bast fibers, is initially a stalk of the general cross sectional make-up shown in Fig. 3. Commencing with the outer layer and proceeding inwardly, there is the external bark I, which varies from a thin protective shell in the case of young stalks to a relatively much thicker and harder layer in-the case of older stalks. Next we find the layer 2 of ramie fiber, which when finally separated from the other layers and cleaned becomes the "China grass of commerce, that when prepared by this new machine and corresponding process is adapted for textiles, paper making and other uses, such as characterize flax, silk, rayon, cotton and the like. Next within this fiber is encountered the woody layer 3, within which is the centrally located pithy core 4 of alpha cellulose. From this group of several layers, the ramie must be separated, washed and deg'ummed, and towards this end the outer bark and inner wood must be broken both longitudinally, along preferably four or more lines, and at substantially equally spaced intervals transversely. The leafy foliage is then removed by abrasion, as by the ues of brushes and preferably in the same direction as that of the leaves normal growth. From then on, the bark and cellulosic pith are removed from the fibers by abrasion, while during substantially all of this treatment the various rotatable elements and the fibers passing between them are subjected to a free now of fresh water. This constant flushing of the rolls and, fiber, together with the aid of brushes (stationary or movable) in contact with the surfaces of said rolls, tends to free the rolls and fiber from the accumulation otherwise of the plant juices gums, which if not removed at once quickly dry and cake, thereby tending to defeat the efficient op eration of the process, and impairing the quality of the finished ramie fibe Referring to Fig. 4, a pair of breaker rolls 5 and 6 are shown as being mounted upon parallel shafts l and 8. The first of these rolls comprises preferably three longitudinally extending ridges 8, the outer surfaces ll of which are concentric, while said ridges are connected by concavely curved, wide, shallow grooves II. The other roll oomprises preferably three radially outwardly extending sectors l2, having concentric outer surfaces l2a which cooperate in such spaced relation with the curved surfaces ll of said first roll as to fiatten the ramie stalk llb, and produce two oppositely directed, and at least one upper and one lower crack or longitudinal break in the bark of the stalk. Between each pair of adjacent sectors i2 is a groove l3, which cooperates in sim-' ilarly spaced relation with the outer surface of one of the ridge surfaces ll of said first roll, to likewise break the bark of the stalks between those regions that are broken by the sectors just described. For breaking both the outer bark and inner wood transversely and at spaced intervals, the stalks in passing between said breaker rolls are abruptly bent in the angular grooves i4, where the wider grooves ll of the second roll meet the radially directed surfaces It, which define both said last-mentioned grooves and the intervening sectors l2, and similarly at the angular intersections It of the ridges with the adjacent curved surfaces ll of the first roll. To a somethe improved machine is represented bya member portion is in rotatable,

what similar tho possibly slightly less degree,

the bark and inner wood of said stalks are also broken as they are bent across the angular ridges l1, formed upon the second roll at the junction of the said radial surfaces It with the outer curved surfaces Ila. However, during this continuous series of both longitudinal and transverse breaks in both bark and wood, the ramie fibers remain intact and unmarred, altho the bond between them and the undesired hurds are loosened to such an extent that the latter may be fairly readily brushed and/or abraded from the former.

Also, it is to be understood that instead of three ridges and intervening grooves upon each roll, any 76 the desired number may be employed; also any desired number of pairs of breaker rolls may be used.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the stalks having passed between the interlocking pair of breakers i and i, thenpass between the first pair of properly spaced abrading feed rolls l8 and IS, the surfaces of which are freed from miscellaneous litter from the broken stalks by means of scrapers 20 and brushes 2|. These rolls positively feed the stalks toward and between a pair of rotatable brushes 22 and 23, which preferably revolve in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the intervening stalks. but at a much higher speed than the breakers, so as to brush the leaves from said stalks in the same direction as that in which the leaves normally grow. From said brushes the stalks then pass between properly spaced pairs -of abrading rolls 2| and 25, which are spaced apart specified distances, as hereinafter described. and which also rotate in the direction taken *by the stalks being treated but at speeds. which differ between the rolls of each vertical pair and also between the average speeds of the'rolls of consecutive pairs, while the surfaces of said rolls are milled or otherwise roughened. After leaving said abrading rolls, the ramie fibers, which by now are free of most of their bark, wood and pith, pass between a pair of cleaner elements 28 and 29, before falling equivalent means for transferring the resulting relatively clean fiber or China grass" sired location for washing, degumming, rewashing, bleaching and/or such other operation as maybedesired.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the abrading rolls of each pair herein described are spaced apart at predetermined distances. Referring to Figs. '7 and 8, a portion of one side of the frame of 30, in which is provided a vertically extending slot 3|, spanned at the top by a suitable plate or the like 32. Within the lower portion of said slot is a bearing block 33, thru which is iournalled the axially extending shaft 34 of one of the rolls II, for instance, the position of said roll being fixed due to the inability of said bearing block to descend further than the lower limit of said slot. The upper roll 24 in this instance, is rotatably supported by its shaft 35, which is ioumalled in an upper bearing block II, which is upwardly slid able within a recess 31 in an auxiliary block 3|, the height of said last-named block being adjustably determined by a screw 3!, the lower end of which is in threaded engagement with said auxiliary block, while its upper free end is provided with a wheel or the like 40, and its intermediate longitudinally fixed engagement with a bushing ll carried by the plate 3!. Thus, the lowermost or normal position of the upper roll 24 is set at any desired distance from the lower roll 2!, and in order that said upper roll may be free to yield upwardly upon encountering any unusual thickness, of stalk material, a compression spring 42 is interposed between the upper bearing block it and the upper portion of said auxiliary block, so that the upper roll 24 is yieldingly maintained in the desired position.

As has been hereinbefor'e stated, it is desirable in treating rami'e fibersto both keep the rolls clean and at the same time wash refuse materials from the fibers, as they are separated therefrom. In order to accomplish this. each upper roll of abrading type is preferably hollow (see Fig.

upon a suitable conveyor II, or

), and is provided at angularly spaced regions with longitudinally extending rows of discharge apertures; but which apertures may be arranged in accordance with any other desired pattern. The ends of each roll are closed by walls 44, thru at least one of which extends the shaft 35 provided with an axial bore 45 for the purpose of conducting water (or other liquid, or gas for that matter) to the interior of said roll, the opposite end wall being provided with a shaft or trunnion 48 which is preferably solid.

As also hereinbefore referred to, the rolls of each vertical pair are rotated at different speeds with respect to each other, while the average speed of the two rolls of each such pair is different from that of the rolls of the next adjacent and subsequent pairs. This may be accomplished in any desired manner, but for purposes of illustration and in the machine which comprises the preferred embodiment of the invention, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal shafts 41 and 4B are provided (see Figs. 9 and 10) and each shaft carries a series of bevel-gears in mesh with similar gears carried by the solid shafts 38 of the several breaker rolls, feed rolls, abradlng rolls, et cetera. To illustrate, in Fig. 9 the two lower rolls 25 are provided with bevel-gears 49, which in this case are of the same size, and are in mesh with bevel-gears 50 carried by the shaft 48, so that both of the rolls 25 rotate (in the direction of their respective arrows) at the same speed, tho some of the adjacent lower rolls rotate at different speeds by using gears having diiferent ratios.

Returning to the instant example, the bevel gears 5|, carried by the upper rolls 24, while of the same size as each other, are larger than the corresponding gears 49 carried by the lower rolls 25. carried by the upper shaft 41 and in mesh with said upper roll gears, are themselves of different sizes, with the result that each of the upper rolls rotates at a different speed from that of its lower roll, while said upper rolls also rotate at diiferent speeds from each other. This speed relation is brought out more specifically by reference to Fig. l, which shows one roll speed relationship that has been found to be very effective: In this setup, which is cited as an example, both of the breakers run at 14 R. P. M.; the first set of abrading, feed rolls at the respective speeds of 8 and 36 R. P. M.; the pair of rotary brushes at 100 R. P. M. each; the first set of abrasion rolls at 16 and 50 R. P. M., respectively, the second set of these rolls at 28 and R. P. M., respectively, and the third and last set of abrading rolls at 60 and 100, respectively; and the cleaner rolls both at 250 R. P. M.; while the conveyor is run at whatever speed may be necessary, such as 90 F. P. M., to carry off the separated fiber. Also, it will be appreciated that instead of the single stationary brush 2| which cooperates with each roll, any number of such brushes can be used, while they may be of whatever form and construction may be found most advantageous, even to the use of rotary brushes if preferred.

For a slightly modified arrangement of the several rolls, reference is made to Fig. 2, wherein the path taken by the stalk initially and in time by the separated fiber is shown by the heavy line 54. a, pair of flattening feedrolls 55, then between brushes 56 for removing the foliage, then between a second pair of feed rolls 51, following At the same time, bevel-gears 52 and 53,

In this case the stalk first passes between which it passes between a series of staggered abradlng rolls 54, which may be considered roughly as comprising several groups of three mils each. In such an arrangement, no matter at what speed any particular abrading roll is run, the speeds of adjacent cooperating rolls are always different and preferably higher, so that the surface speed of each roll is progressively greater than the speed at which first the stalk and in time the separated fibers pass each such roll. Finally, in this construction as in that first described, the fiber still in association with at least some of the refuse material passes between one or more pairs of high-speed cleaning rolls 60.

Summarizing the several steps of the process briefly, the leaves are first removed by brushing them in the direction of their growth in preference to against the direction of growth, in order to eliminate the possibility otherwise of injuring the ultimate condition of the separated ramie fibers. The stalks are flattened, so as to thereby break both the wood and whatever thickness of bark may be present, both upon the laterally opposite edges of said flattened stalk, and also substantially in the center of each flattened side. The spaces between vertically adjacent rolls is such that the stalks are only flattened, but not close enough to compress or tighten the bark about the fibers, as under too great a pressure the fibers are fractured by being pressed too firmly into the inner wood portion of the stalk. By transversely breaking the bark of the stalks, the bark is still further loosened from the fiber which lies immediately therebeneath, without injuring the latter. Besides acting as breakers, the rolls thus designated may be used as cleaners, and may be of any desired number and arrangement either at the entering end or the discharge end of the machine alone, or both at the entering and discharge ends of said machine. It should be noted at this point that consideration of the direction of rotation of the various rolls is predicated largely upon the fact, that it is preferable to feed the stalks into the machine butt first, especially as the ends of the stalks can be better aligned in that manner. The stalks, after passing the final set of feed rolls that control the already flattened and longitudinally broken, de-foliaged stalks, with the outer bark at least substantially entirely removed and the bond broken between fibers, wood and whatever small pieces of bark may still remain, are then finally cleaned by the rapidly rotating cleaner rolls. Towards washing away the undesirable waste material, sufilcient water is allowed to escape from the upper abrading rolls both to cleanse their own surfaces and to flow downwardly over the surface of the respective rolls beneath them.

Throughout the foregoing specification and in th appended claim, it is to be understood that all references to ramie specifically are to be considered as-includlng and anticipating any and all bast and/or other fibers, which can be handled efficiently by the improved machine and process herein disclosed, such as for instance as Crotclaria auncea.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A machine for separating ramie fiber from its stalk, comprising a pair of cooperating rotatable dissimilar breakers. each of which comprises circumferentially arranged alternate ridges and grooves characterized by relatively sharp angular portions, the adjacent surfaces of which mesh in substantially uniform spaced relation, the

angular portions of the ridges of one breaker nesting within the angular portions of the respective grooves of the other breaker, the ridges of the first breaker tapering outwardly and having convex outer surfaces, the grooves oi the other breaker tapering inwardly and having convex 4- asaaooo inner surfaces. and the intermediate portions of said last-mentioned breaker increasing in width outwardly and having convex outer surfaces between the ridges of said first breaker, the cooperating portions of the surfaces oi. said breakers being of a substantially uniform distance apart as they revolve.

DAVID E. PA'I'I'ERSON. 

